St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-09

A Minneapolis Correspondent Fear
Foo Much of Good / hing
To the Editor Of the Globe

To the Editor Of the Globe:
Our labor representatives are prompt in
presenting bills for the improvement of man.
kind in general, and themselves and their
constituents in particular. This they are in
duty bound to do. 1t is what they promised
TO do, If elected, and if the movement is not Il
good one they should not be made to bear more
than their propositional share of the respon-
sibiity. lido nor propose to deny that law
has its place in all schemes of social reform
and that it may be made the means of great
good to society. am in favor of what is
called the ''paternal system of government
and am not afraid that the individuality and
self reliance of the people will be leSSened by
all that the government may do towards
helping the masses. Free schools. the post
Office. as lumS for the deaf and dumb insane
hospitals, and all similar paternal eXpedi-
ents, are good things. Laws for
the protection OF Lorr children. for
an early age, and for shutting up houses of
temptation of many forms, should be enact ed
and enforced. But there is another side to
the subject that wish TO present. Depend
ence on law is fatal. The very best that
legal enactments can do is but little when
compared with what is needed. Well in
formed socialists can take but little interest
in efforts to lift up the masses by means of
laws passed for their benefit. The most
bepeficient use of the power of the state is
in educating the youth of the country. But
every child IN ght be able to pass examinations
in all the branches taught in the best schools
of our country without increasing the wages
of our workmen dime day. The lug of
war that goes on when "GF6e6 meets Creek
is certainly as desperate and fatal as when
the unframed soldier meets his trained oppo-
nent in the arena. Competition between work
men of skill is as relentless and destructive
as etween ignorant novices and awkward
bot mes. Educate every Guild to the utmost
ard GU merely place them on higher plane
to pursue tue cd fatal warfare.
/ therefore look on legal reforms when
looked upon as remedies. dangerous quack.
er AS palliatives, as acknowled gmeutS OF
DEBTS due and unpaid, they may be prop ri,
advocated and accepted. But to place oul
dependence on them is to waste precious time
and to insure ultimate disappointment
Reconstruction is needed. A new anC
healthy constitution should be given TO oul
body polite, and pills, whether big O little
allopathic or homeopathic, are of very little
use compared with the sound hygenic basis
on which a living, active organ ism il
necessarily depenuent. Competition pro
duces monopolieS: competition reduces wage:
to starvation rates; competition produces
frauds of all kinds: competition forces capt
talists to Destroy their weaker competitors
and by corrupt arts 10 gain legal adva 1tages
In the courts and halls of legislation. A.
least such is the opinion of the highest au
tnorities in political and social science. Tt
neutraliZe or prevent these evils b. paper
bullets is hopeless. The old lady who tr e,
the active use of her broom is sample Of The